Chocolate Winter Wonderland

Image source and recipe here.

 

Oops, just a little diversion  from a regular work day.  (I took the photo above inside the Villa Farnese, also known as Villa Caprarola Italy when I was an architecture student in Rome.)

 

Above:  Painting of the same stairway by Hubert Robert (22 May 1733 – 15 April 1808), a French painter, noted for his landscape paintings and picturesque depictions of ruins.

 

Above:  In the Stair well (Scala Regia) looking up

 

Above:  The main facade of the Villa.  The architect, Giacomo Barozzi da Vignola dealt with the changes in grade up the hillside creating a very complex building solution.

 

Above:  A partial section cut through the complex structure.

Above:   A glimpse of the gardens

Above:  The Villa on the hill above the town.

Italian Dogs 1

Above:  Street Conversation, Toarmina Sicily,  12"x9" acrylic on canvas (painted 2012).
If you have a dog (owners of other pets probably feel the same) and you are traveling, and you see a dog, there's a swell of emotional connection to that dog that you see in the "foreign" land.  Several years ago on a trip to Sicily, I had such an experience...several times with several dogs.  I decided it would be a fun "project" to photograph people with their dogs.  The photograph for the painting above was taken on the street in Taormina Sicily.  This is truly a candid shot, in that I didn't ask for permission and the subjects were not aware of me with my camera.  I had seen this Pekingese dog sitting on the entry door steps of a shop.  Then later the same day I saw this woman (with the most unusual hair) walking the dog down the street.  When even later I came upon her with the dog and talking to this professorial-looking gentleman, I thought "this is a photo opportunity that I cannot let escape me."  This is the first photo I took.  I snapped several shots and later upon reviewing them I noticed this one had a nun in it.  What a bonus!  I never saw the mysterious redhead's face.  Was she an Italian film star?  Who knows, but she had such an incredible presence and from the look of her hair, the texture, it appeared that she and the dog went to the same "hairdresser"!

I continued this little project a bit in Sicily and a few years later, more intently at the Galleria Vittoria Emanuele II, on trip to Northern Italy.  In the case of the Galleria, I recalled enough Italian language to ask the dog owners permission to take the photos.  An entire charming new dynamic resulted from this encounter.  Of course, every human was proud to show off their four-legged bambino. 

When I began this "project", in the back of my mind I thought it would be fun to paint a series from these photographs.  Now six---seven years later, the time is right.

More of these paintings to follow...

Jay's Weekender

Jay's Weekender ("Ender")  19 May 1999 - 22 November 2012

One of the gentlest, sweetest loyal spirits I have ever known.

For Desire to Inspire Design Crew 17 Nov. 2012

My Schematic Sketch:  This is the arrangement I'd like to suggest for this irregular, but intriguing floor plan.  Keep in mind that this is a schematic placement of furnishings without having exact dimensions of the furnishings.  Sofas may be moved closer to the fireplace, if their size and radius of their curve permits.  The dining table is located near the window to provide a dining experience that transcends the immediate interior surroundings, possible view?  This arrangement also allows for a smooth flow of service from the kitchen to the dining table.  The piano is now in a more inclusive location and balanced by the sofas and console table and lamp along the long fireplace wall.  The arched floor lamp is positioned on the other end of the sofas.   The large solid-color circular area rug "grounds" the seating in the living area.  The TV, if not left above the fireplace, could be placed on an artist's floor easel near the piano---the height being easily adjusted.  ~Sparky

Link to Saturday, 17 November Design Crew Project on Desire to Inspire.

George Nakashima Furniture Maker

George Nakashima attended my alma mater and earned an undergraduate degree in Architecture in 1929.  He went on to get his Master's of Architecture at M.I.T.    But he is best known for his work in mid-20th Century furniture design and woodworking.

In January there will be an exhibit of what is now considered vintage Nakashima furniture along with architectural drawings and sketches.

GEORGE NAKASHIMA'S WORK AT THE WING LUKE MUSEUM

George Nakashima: A Master's Furniture and Philosophy is on exhibit through January 20, 2013 at the Wing Luke Museum in Seattle. From the Wing Luke Museum: A leading mid-20th century designer in woodworking, 1929 UW architecture graduate George Nakashima (1905-1990) is known for his fine detailing, finishing, and spirituality, stemmed from a deep kinship with nature. Featuring vintage Nakashima furniture, architectural drawings and sketches, follow how Nakashima's life experiences translated into his work and explore his legacy today.

    

Nakashima's daughter, Mira continues his furniture woodworking shop.  Here is a short film in which she talks about their form of art and craft. Click on the link below to view the 3:26 minute film.
Nakashima Woodworker film

from Bob Krist

George Nakashima made some unconventional choices for his life after his formal education.  Wikepedia provides a concise summary of his experiences here. 

Louis XVI-style Dining Table with Three Leaves

This  cream painted Louis XVI dining table is the standard 29-1/2 inches high and 42 inches wide.

It includes three leaves.  Without the leaves, it measures 60 inches long (5 feet).

With all three leaves, the table is 96 inches (8 feet) long. 

When the three leaves are being used, three seats are easily accommodated along each side.  (Chairs are not included with the sale of this table.)

If you are interested in this handsome sturdy table and have questions, please contact me via the email button on the right-hand side of this page.  As with most of the items from my workshop, if I don't hear of interest from this post, the item will go on to a local consignment shop which will ask a higher price to cover their fees.